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This Friday, Daytime Emmy winner, Cynthia Watros returns to daytime on the number one soap, The Young and the Restless in a guest star story arc that hopefully will end up being much longer than anticipated! As soap fans know, Cynthia captivated audiences with her portrayal of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light! In fact, Watros collected the gold for her performances as a woman completely unhinged in her vendetta against Reva Shayne (Kim Zimmer) and that’s putting it mildly! Remember, the dead fetus?

Now collaborating once again with Y&R’s executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps, Watros is excited about her new daytime role as Kelly, a woman mourning the loss of her son who crosses path with Billy (Billy Miller) in a support group for grieving parents. Billy is trying to come to terms with the loss of his little girl, Delia. The question is, will Kelly turn out to be psycho just like Annie Dutton was in Springfield? Nobody plays that type of gal better!

On-Air On-Soaps chatted with Watros to give us a small preview of why she took the role, what we can expect, and what about all the original rumors swirling about that she was a possible replacement for Michelle Stafford in the role of Phyllis? Below are excerpts from our conversation!

Cynthia on if she was aware of how much the fans were ecstatic upon hearing she was returning to daytime, and how unforgettable Annie Dutton was to the Guiding Light audience: “I haven’t gone on any websites or anything, but I am so thrilled that they remember Annie, and that they loved her as much as I did. I loved playing her and loved Guiding Light andmy whole experience there. I am so glad they remember me and Annie with fondness. That makes me really happy! I hope with Kelly, I can dive into some issues where I can have some fun like I did with Annie.”

Courtesy/CBS

Cynthia on why she is so good at playing twisted women like Annie: ” I like playing psychos, but Annie wasn’t just crazy, and people could relate to her. She didn’t want to be crazy. She was a woman struggling with all these emotions: fear, sadness, anxiety, and all these things. She wanted love, and we all just want love.“

Cynthia on her take on the role of Kelly: “She is a grieving mother who lost her son and she is in this supportive, grieving group where she meets Billy. She is taking a little hiatus from her teaching job because of losing her son. I think she’s just a woman trying to get back to some normalcy in her life.”

Cynthia on meeting and working with Billy Miller: “He’s so gracious and lovely and welcoming to me, which is nice when you enter into something like this. I kept getting lost at CBS while trying to find my way around to the dressing rooms and stuff, and Billy was very sweet to me. He goes, ‘Can I help you?’ I think I know my way now, but he’s lovely and he’s so good … and it’s so fun to act with him.”

Courtesy/CBS

Cynthia on what Y&R would have to do to entice her to stay longer than her current stint: “I told Jill Farren Phelps, that as long as she wants me and we can work around each other’s schedules, I would be happy to do whatever I can for the soap and be there as much as I can. I would love to work with her and the soap. I love playing all kinds of characters. If Kelly turns out to have hidden characteristics, I’d love to explore them!”

Cynthia on what is it about working with Jill Farren Phelps that makes her want to collaborate with the EP again in her acting career: ” She’s a perfect combination of someone who knows what she’s doing, and she’s a strong woman. She’s been working in this field for a very long time, and she’s welcoming and warm. I think when I came on to Guiding Light I was such a newbie and so inexperienced. Jill just carried me through my first year and showed me the ropes and was very gentle. I have a very warm spot for her.”

Cynthia on the speculation that she was originally set to replace Michelle Stafford as Phyllis: “I think that is a subject I can’t really comment on … but, it’s interesting.”

Courtesy/CWatrosGetsLost

Cynthia on why she decided to create a web series, Cynthia Watros Gets Lost based on the trials and tribulations of her life. The series ended up being phenomenal! “That was just a fun little thing that I did just to make fun of myself. I love comedy and it was easy to do, and on the web, you can do something in one afternoon and then post it and it’s so much fun to do. So those were just fun little shows that I put on when I had a little bit of down time.”

So, are you excited about this Friday when Cynthia Watros debuts on Y&R? Do you think Kelly and Billy Abbott will have an affair? Do you hope Cynthia stays longer on Y&R? Did you watch Cynthia as Annie on Guiding Light? What do you think about the rumors of Cynthia replacing Michelle Stafford as Phyllis? So many questions to be answered! Comment below!

After reading an interview in SOD {old one} MS hinted after she left that she thought they had already recast the role of Phyllis I think maybe JFP thought about it then switched gears. Just a thought no proof!

I think an affair would be TRULY disgusting and disappointing considering just how much he and Victoria have loved each other for four years. I will be so disappointed. Victoria and Billy have been everything and more to each other so to ruin this pairing for something like this would probably make me tune out. And Victoria has been there every single step of the way.

Didn’t really watch her on GL, but everyone seems to love her acting, so it’ll be nice to have her on for a while, I guess.

My concern though is anytime we hear anyone speak “fondly” of Phelps that indicates that the person may be thrust upon us to occupy screen time that YR fans want THEIR characters to have. We just got Nikki back the past couple of months.

I think it would be horrible if they have Billy cheat on Victoria with anyone much less a complete stranger. After years of professing his undying love for Victoria and the fact that she has stood by him through every crisis he has been in, it would be a slap in the face of their many fans and truly disgusting writing for Billy and Victoria.

She’s one of the ten best actors to ever grace daytime. She is right up there with Douglass Watson, Debbie Morgan, etc. So please soap gods, do not put her in Dullan’s romantic orbit!!! He’s so damn dull!

I’m not familiar with her but have heard nothing but good things about her as an actress so I am excited to see her on Y&R. I hope she doesn’t have an affair with Billy because that to me is the easy way out, too predictable and overdone on soaps. Let them be friendly and help each other. I think though it is far more interesting to see a couple work through a tough time together so let Billy and Victoria work through this together. Let’s not have a repeat of Nick after Cassie died. I think there are other men to pair her with if she can stick around. Heck even if she isn’t Phyllis, how about with Jack?

Finally!
Billy and Victoria’s turn for a troublesome breakup!
It is a soap and happy couples do not last long, ALL couples get their time for the breaking up story, it is soap drama 101..
Billy and Victoria have out run their happy time…
The only reason I had to wait so long for it is because Y&R is slow slow slow moving, the stories go on and on and on to the point of me losing interest and suffer total boredom.
I really think this Billy and Kelly story will be a tearjerking sleeper, just a feeling, hope not..

This show just continues to not get it. Why bring on a newbie nobody that we have NO emotional attachment to to tell the story of a grieving mother?? Ashley has lost children. Traci has lost a daughter. Sharon has lost a daughter. Why not have Sharon help Billy through this and put that towards Sharon’s return to normalcy? Why should we care about a grieving mother that we don’t know when there are at least three mothers on he show with decades of history who have lost children? There better not be an affair between Billy and this woman. And victoria darn well better conceive her own child, if she hasn’t already. This new character might be a good match for Jack or another bachelor in town but not billy.

If I remember when Annie came on GL she wasn’t a psycho at first she was just an ex-addict (pills I think with Rick) who kept making bad choices and Cynthia was so vulnerable and subtle playing that. I just loved her. Then the crazy stuff started and she was great playing that too and funny! I am really looking forward to seeing her!

She seems awfully evasive about the Phyllis thing—-right now it seems like it is a short term gig, but she seems she very much wants to be a part of this show– so maybe she could be the next incarnation of Shelia Carter since she is known for playing someone not playing with a full deck.

Oh goodie we have someone who can comfort Billy who gave birth to Delia! It is beyond disgusting that this piece of whatever producer has so little concern for women Chloe gave birth gosh help me but what is that woman’s problem. Chloe & Kevin raised this child Billy was an after thought.

I can’t stand Michelle Stafford especially with some of her backstage antics at Y&R over the years. Those namely to do with marring and attempting to blacklist Victoria Rowell’s name. That being said I do like the character of Phyllis as portrayed by her and I could see Cynthia Watros as a long term replacement. But, Cynthia has an extensive primetime background now and she would be hard pressed to commit to a long term contract right now. It’s just not in the cards which is why after she most likely declined JFP’s offer of the long term role of Phyllis she still accepted a short term arc as this new character Kelly. They could quite possibly have it in the cards to make a Sheila type character out of her over her grief. Who knows. But from GL to Lost to primetime comedies I do love Cynthia and am looking forward to her time on Y&R.

I do not want Cynthia stay longer!!!!! Yes she is a great actor. BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE that we not going to have more CRAZI character no PLEASE NO! Find something else for Billy. Not an affair with a crazy girl Thank you

I couldn’t be more thrilled to see Cynthia Watros back on daytime. I was completely enthralled by her role as Annie on Guiding LIght. Her performance is what kept me watching during the show’s later, declining years. While her story appears only to be for a short stint, I would love to see her stick around. I think she would be an incredible addition to the cast. Though she has more than enough chops to fill her shoes and I’d love to see what she would bring to the role , I must say that I’m hopeful for Michelle Stafford’s return as Phyllis. I’m a couple weeks behind in episodes, but I will be doing a marathon session to catch up to see her debut. Welcome back, Cynthia!

Kelly seems likeable now, but I can see her reeling Billy in bit by bit. From what I remember, this story line is eerily similar to what happened to Nick and Sharon after Cassie died. I agree that grieving a lost child doesn’t necessarily have to lead to an affair, but I never saw Billy and Victoria staying together forever either. Victoria is so supportive, but not as suspicious as she should be when she sees Kelly and Billy together so often.

I hope they bring Phyliss back. Who they need to get rid of is that psycho nimphomaniac Sharon. And this new woman is horrible! What is wrong with her skin? She looks splotchy and shiny or something. Like she is dirty or something, or doesn’t know how to put make-up on. Get rid of her NOW!

I am very disappointed in the show, I think getting rid of Adam is a mistake. Even if they replace him the story wil never be the same . When I watched the hit and run I didn’t think he ran over Dehlia. Why can’t he and Chloe have a chance of happines with their little boy. I hate to see Billy go; even the replacement to my mind will not truly replace him. I see how it is going victoria and Stitch and who knows what this wise fellow will do. I am not at all liking the way the show is going so after many, many years of watching I think I will call it a day!!

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